Special Collections & University Archives

About the Archives

The Archives was created in 1965 by the Board of Trustees to collect, preserve, and make available the historically and legally valuable records of the University and of Stanford community members. Adjunct to this responsibility is the collecting of all materials relating to the University's founders, Leland and Jane Lathrop Stanford, and to those family members who were associated with them in business ventures or the creation of Stanford University.

The Stanford University Archives is pleased to announce that it recently accessioned extensive media holdings from the Native American Cultural Center (NACC), including reel-to-reel language tapes, and VHS tapes and DVDs containing recordings of Native Research Forums, the Hanitchak Lecture Series, Native Graduation, and Hall of Fame Induction and Alumni Dinner events. Also included in the transfer are photographs of Native alumni, copies of the Stanford Native Community newsletter, and posters of the Stanford Powwow. All materials date from 1970-2014.

The University Archives is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Keith Johnstone papers. Johnstone, a British and Canadian pioneer of improvisational theatre, is best known for inventing the Impro System and Theatresports, the latter of which has become a staple of modern improvisational comedy and is the inspiration for the television shows such as "Whose Line Is It Anyway?." As an educator, playwright, actor and theatre director Johnstone's ideas about improvisation, behaviour and performance appeal to a wide variety of groups. From actors to psychotherapists, improvisation companies to theatre schools and companies, business and management training specialists and humanities research institutes, universities and film production companies have invited him to come to teach them about his ideas, and how they might apply them.